JAPAN 

A CHILD OF THE 
WORLD'S OLD AGE 



CHARLES CLARKE 




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Book 

Copyright II?. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSITS 



I 



JAPAN 

A CHILD OF THE 
WORLD'S OLD AGE 



By CHARLES CLARKE 
1910 



The Franklin Press 
Detroit, Mich. 



BSgoe 

.C6 



Copyrighted by 
Charles Clarke 
All rights reserved 
Price $1.00 



)CI,A361274 



I 




CL-^-/Cc^^. (S^,^:^.^/-^^^ 



To the One 
who has been my inspira- 
tion — my wife, this narra- 
tive is lovingly dedicated. 



PREFACE 

My purpose in offering this 
little volume, is to record some 
facts regarding Pacific-Orient 
interests, impressions gained 
during a trip to Japan, and 
through other sources, believing 
the reader and observer are in- 
terested in a development that is 
sometimes startling by the logic 
of events. 

Charles Clarke. 

Detroit, Mich. 
1910 



FOREWORD 

American history records two im- 
portant events in the period of the 
late forties and early fifties, which 
were then, and are still, co-related. 
I refer to the discovery of gold in 
California, the resultant emigration 
and development of the Pacific slope 
that has' followed; and the expedi- 
tion of Commodore Mathew C. 
Perry to Japan, where, as this coun- 
try's representative, he successfully 
negotiated the first treaty of amity 
with Japan, and initiated the opening 
of that hermit kingdom to the world. 

The gold seekers wrought better 
than they knew, as is evidenced by 
the marvelous development in the 
Pacific slope since the Civil War ; the 
old Santa Fe and Oregon trails are 
now imaginary lines, and that insu- 
perable barrier, the "great divide," is 
an attractive landscape to the modern 
traveler. 



My Trip To Japan 

When William H. Seward, Secre- 
tary of State, concluded the purchase 
of Alaska from Russia, in the sixties, 
there was a howl long and deep on 
the part of the people and press of 
this coimtry, and a marvel from 
foreign countries as to wihat we could 
do with that 590,884 square miles of 
snow and ice. Our pioneer seekers 
of the golden dust — Yankee-like — 
were ready to move on, and the usual 
result — 'development — followed, for 
we find that in 1887 the production 
of gold in that territory (Alaska) 
was $2,700.00, while in 1909 it was 
$20,371,000, with an aggregate total 
of $186,000,000 since 1880, the year 
mining commenced there. In the 
wake of those results came an insight 
into the latent resources of that terri- 
tory, sudhi as' coal, copper, and other 
[11] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

minerals, together with its immense 
timber areas. This set the pace for 
development in the great Northwest, 
stimulating the commercial spirit, 
and brought our own people as well 
as our neighbors on the north to a 
realizing sense of the undeveloped 
resources along this section of the 
Pacific. 

With one transcontinental line 
already reaching out to the Orient — 
the Canadian Pacific Ry. — at Van- 
couver, and the Grand Trunk Pacific 
Ry., a great transcontinental hne, 
marvelous in construction and enter- 
prise, to be completed to Prince 
Rupert, one of the finest ports on the 
Pacific, early in 1914, affording the 
shortest route to the Orient, is but a 
sequence of the conditions above de- 
scribed. Above it all Alaska's de- 
velopment has primarily been the 
means of interesting our own, as well 

as the people of Canada in the whole 

[12] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

Pacific slope, for we now realize the 
value of that great stretch of coast — 
over six thousand miles — ^from Nome 
to Panama, which is directly under 
the supervision of the United States 
and Canada ; the forces' that stand for 
the protection of investments in the 
transportation lines and analogous 
enterprises. 

San Francisco, occupying a central 
geographical position, with a harbor 
of one hundred square miles in area, 
where it is said the navies of the 
world could anchor, and readily ac- 
cessible from every section of the vast 
contiguous territory — inter-mountain 
and beyond — ^makes her the logical 
point of vantage in promoting the 
factors that must stand for the wel- 
fare and protection of our people in 
the future. We have no visions of 
the millennium, but we anticipate the 
sense of the people of all lands when, 

"Man to man the world o'er 
Shall brithers be for a' that." 

[13] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

No other location on the Pacific 
promises so much — ^local as well as 
international, for in connection with 
the advantages previously described, 
the spirit of construction as exempli- 
fied by that city during the past four 
years spells amazement at every turn. 
Other Pacific ports and cities have 
their over-sea connections and aspira- 
tions, all tending to the upbuilding 
of commerce, but it should be based 
upon a liberal co-operative plan, and 
for a common weal, as we should in 
the future display our courage on the 
battle-fields of commerce, rather than 
in the fore-front of a clash at arms. 

The opening of the Panama Canal 
will materially change the trend of 
ocean trade, and under such condi- 
tions, if such premises are correct, 
what are we doing toward utilizing 
the advantages ^dth which nature and 
our national enterprise has endowed 
us, and that will be given an impetus 

[14] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

by the completion of this great inter- 
national highway? 

The Japanese, at least, believe im- 
plicitly in the doctrine that the seas 
are God's great highways, and are 
building their commerce on such 
premises. They now have lines of 
ships between the Orient and Pacific 
ports, and will soon, no doubt, estab- 
lish over-sea connections with other 
ports on this continent. 

Mr. Satori Kato, a Japanese of 
some standing, in his article, "The 
Mastery of the Pacific," says in part: 
"Whether allowed or disallowed, 
Japan's insistent aspiration is to be 
mistress of the Pacific," and this, he 
argues, they can accomplish through 
difference in cost of construction and 
operation as compared with us ; but he 
does not, however, add the further 
advantage they possess through their 
government subsidies. 

The wars of the future must be 

[IS] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

for commercial supremacy, if the 
people of an enlightened civilization 
are to control. As the poet says: 

"We are living, we are dwelling 
In a grand and awful time. 
In an age on ages telling 
To be living is sublime." 

The voyage from America to that 
little Island Empire in the Far East, 
lying directly off the coast of China, 
in the modern ships that ply the Pa- 
cific, is an event and a delight. It 
was my fortmie to board the good 
ship "Tenyo Maru" at San Fran- 
cisco on a beautiful March day, with 
a favorable sea and a complement of 
cabin passengers, a cosmopolitan 
class from all parts of the world. 
Some were on business bent, others 
out for rest and pleasure, others pro- 
fessional globe trotters, but withal an 
agreeable party. Thrown thus to- 
gether for a sixteen and a half days' 
trip made it incumbent upon all to 
avoid seclusion, after the first 

[16] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

"pangs" of the sea for some had sub- 
sided, and proceed to get acquainted. 

The name of our ship, "Tenyo 
Maru," translated into English is as 
follows: "Tenyo" means "Heaven 
andi Sea," "Maru" means "round" 
(as in a circle) . She had a lig'ht 
cargo of freight, less than eight hun- 
dred tons, while her capacity was 
fully twelve thousand tons, which 
made her unsteady and compelled us 
to keep well to the south of the 
Tropic of Cancer, and off the regular 
route after leaving Honolulu and 
until within about three days out 
from Yokohama. 

Leaving San Francisco harbor, we 
pass' out to sea through the gauntlet 
of ships, and past the islands that dot 
this grand land-locked refuge for the 
crafts of the sea, and the Golden 
Gate, all presenting a beautiful pic- 
ture. 

Out in the old Pacific, with her in- 

[17] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

terminable "roll," it took some time 
for us "land-lubbers" to get our sea 
legs. We soon, however, adjusted 
ourselves to the new conditions, and 
the getting acquainted commenced, 
for we began to realize we were out 
on the "Father of Waters"— the 
great Pacific — and our long voyage 
to the Orient just begun, which would 
be very monotonous for some, unless 
something was started. The supply 
of reading material which the average 
sea-going passenger takes the pre- 
caution to lay in is soon exhausted, 
and then there is only the novelty of 
the sea, the ship and its people from 
w'hich to draw inspiration, informa- 
tion or relaxation, and with only the 
variations in the "temper of the sea" 
there was no appreciable difference 
in the day's routine, and as is the cus- 
tom on these sea liners, it is "a feast 
of the larders" — ^five meals per diem 
— and an occasional lunch if desired. 

[18] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

Exercise is taken by walking round 
the deck, and on this ship, eight times 
round was equivalent to one mile. 

On the morning of the sixth day 
out from San Francisco we sighted 
the Hawaiian Islands, and on round- 
ing Diamond Head, that great moun- 
tain sentinel standing guard over the 
mid-channel of the Pacific highway, 
there was Oahu, the island upon 
which the city of Honolulu is located. 
We entered Pearl Harbor about 10 
A. M., in a heavy sea, and reached the 
dock at Honolulu about 2 P. M., the 
delay being caused principally by 
quarantine regulations. The ship's 
engines stopped at 10:45 A. M., for 
the first time since leaving San Fran- 
cisco at 2:45 P. M. on the fifteenth, 
time about six days, distance, 2,089 
miles. While this is not unusual, or 
an extraordinary feat in navigation, 
it was somewhat novel in the eyes of 
the novice. 

[19] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

The ship's passenger list registered 
people from nearly every country of 
the world, those from the United 
States predominating, for we have 
the reputation of being globe-trotters, 
of whom it is said their life on the 
"wing" is not always a happy one. 
This is especially true of the 
"Yankee" type, Who think the ship 
too slow, could be handled better, 
that the captain and crew should 
accept his (or her) advice. In fact, 
this type is a self-imposed regulator, 
at home or abroad, and generally subh 
persons are usually "fussed up" most 
of the time. We found them on the 
ship and ashore ; their time was always 
limited, and their ticket scheduled, 
resulting in a sight-seeing — not ob- 
serving — rush, and a verdict at the 
conclusion of the trip, that it was not 
much of a country or people anyway, 
no comparison to the people at home ; 
and then the self-satisfaction of hav- 

[30] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

ing had the opportunity and eminent 
privilege of telling some of "these 
foreigners" to that effect on the way. 

Reader, if you should make a for- 
eign trip, look pleasant and observe, 
and you will be rewarded. 

Our call at Honolulu was brief, 
about twenty-four hours, but it gave 
us ample time to see the principal 
points of interest and attraction. It 
was all novel, being our first sight of 
the tropics. Many of the passengers 
went asshore and visited various places 
of interest ; some fellow voyagers and 
I visiting a sugar and pineapple plan- 
tation not far from the city, and we 
were well repaid. Sugar and pine- 
apples are at present the principal 
commercial products of the Hawaiian 
Islands, but the people are now turn- 
ing their attention to the raising of 
tobacco, coffee and rubber. The pine- 
apple industry of the islands is said 
to be the most extensive in the world, 

[21] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

and the quality is unexcelled. In 
1909 there were upwards of six thou- 
sand acres under cultivation on the 
various islands, producing about one 
million cases (two dozen per case). 
This is a comparatively new industry 
for these islands, starting about 1900, 
yet is second in value to sugar. 

The Hawaiian group, consisting 
of eight inhabited islands, are of vol- 
canic formation, the group being 
about four hundred miles long, from 
southeast to northwest, area 6,449 
square miles; aggregate population, 
last census, 220,000. Honolulu, lo- 
cated on the island of Oahu, has a 
population of about thirty-five thou- 
sand, the whole island containing 
about ninety-three thousand, and for 
a visitor from North America is' a 
wonder spot. Lying just beyond the 
Tropic of Cancer, in nearly mid- 
Pacific, the climate is tropical, mini- 
mum temperature being 55 and maxi- 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

mum 90 degrees, affording an 
equableness that insures productive- 
ness in flowers and vegetation in pro- 
fusion. 

Space does not permit my giving, 
even briefly, a history of Honolulu 
and its surroundings, or attempting 
to describe the many traditions con- 
nected therewith; but amongst its 
several attractions are its beautiful 
harbor, which, while not large, is 
fairly well protected, there being a 
good depth of water, and being well 
and attractively formed. Beautiful 
Waikiki Beach, just under historical 
Diamond Head, a continuous sum- 
mer resort, where all the accessories 
of such places are provided, even to 
a greater extent than we have in the 
north, including surf-riding by the 
expert natives and others indigenous 
to that climate. 

The old volcanoes (now extinct on 
this island) and historic places, the 



JAPAN, A CHILD OP 

Avenue of Royal Palms — king of 
the palm species — ^that is difficult to 
describe ; the Aquarium with its hun- 
dreds of curious fish and water spe- 
cies, said to be one of the finest, 
though not the largest, aquarium in 
the world. Without seeing these fish 
we are inclined to be incredulous as to 
the old Pacific producing fish of such 
varied forms and distinctive colors. 

Before closing this short descrip- 
tion of this mid-Pacific station on the 
great over-sea highway, I wish to 
mention their "hquid" sunshine, of 
which Mark Twain remarked: "If 
one wished to find any particular, 
place in Honolulu, they should pro- 
ceed until they met two showers and 
then turn to the left." 

I am imable to find any statistics 
showing the annual rainfall at Hono- 
lulu, but While we were there we had 
frequent "dashes of the hquid sun- 
shine," which the natives said was 

[24] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

unusual for that season. However, 
everything that is exposed indicates 
they do not suffer from drought in 
that section, for the gray fungus 
growth on the volcanic stone fences 
and other structures, is conclusive 
proof that the rainfall is ample. 

The landing of the big ocean liners 
at this' port is apparently an event, 
as we were met by throngs of people 
of all classes and conditions, and 
when we sailed for the Orient, they 
were on hand with the band, flowers 
in profusion, and the expert native 
swimmers who dive for coins. One 
of their customs is to decorate the 
departing friends with flowers, and 
just as the ship is swinging away 
from the wharf, the recipient throws 
the flowers back to the dock, or into 
the sea. 

Passing out to sea, we get a good 
view of some of the sister islands of 
the Hawaiian group ; then out on the 

[36] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

old Pacific, with no more view of land 
until we readh King's Head, the cape 
at the entrance to Yokohama Bay — 
leading to Yokohama Harbor, and 
the land-locked roadstead of Japan. 
On this journey from Honolulu to 
Yokohama, we passed within sixty- 
five miles of the Midway Islands, 
thirteen hundred miles from Hono- 
lulu, where the Pacific Cable Com- 
pany have a station. It is of small 
area, about one and a half miles long 
by one mile wide, of coral formation, 
with a natural coral protection (wall) 
about eighteen miles around it. We 
crossed the International boundary 
line about twenty-one hundred miles 
beyond Honolulu, where Old Nep- 
,tune boards the ship, and announces 
to the voyagers, who are eastward 
bound, that a day is dropped from 
the calendar. This is all given in due 
form, to the delight of the first trip 
passengers. 

[26] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

This stretch of sea, thirty-five hun- 
dred miles, entailing a voyage of over 
nine days without sigtht of land would 
be monotonous if something were not 
started to amuse and interest the pass- 
engers. So games of various kinds 
are engaged in, such as s^huffleboard, 
quoit pitching, rings, deck tennis, etc., 
during the day; dances, vaudeville, 
wrestling matches are made up of the 
ship's crew, who are generally Jap- 
anese and expert athletes. SuOh ex- 
hibitions were novel and intensely in- 
teresting. 

During the day we were on the 
lookout for passing ships, whales, or 
anything that would break the monot- 
ony and great lonely expanse of the 
sea. Many of us were interested in 
obtaining a siglht of the Siouthem 
Cross, a group of five stars, low on 
the southern horizon, only visible on 
this route when the ship is sailing 
south of the Tropic of Cancer, and 

[27] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

about halfway from Honolulu to the 
coast of Japan. We were on this 
route — and not the usual and direct 
route on account of severe storms north, 
of which we were advised by wireless. 
The casual observer hardly compre- 
hends the vastness of the Pacific 
Ocean, as its area is seventy thousand 
square miles, and its maximum sur- 
veyed depth thirty-one thousand six 
hundred and fourteen feet, over five 
and one-half miles — ^this sounding 
being near our Island of Guam, and 
said to contain one hundred and sev- 
enty million cubic miles of water, all 
of which represents an expanse and 
vastness" that is nearly beyond the 
comprehension of the novice, and the 
sweep and power of it is grand beyond 
compare. The one greatest fear of 
all who travel the Oriental Pacific, is 
the typhoon, which sweeps that part 
of the Pacific Ocean within a radius 
of about one thousand miles off the 

[38] 



^^ 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

coasts of China and Japan. They 
generally occur in the fall, and at 
times are teriffic. 

Here is the story of one ship's en- 
counter with a typhoon as it was told 
me by her first officer: 

The good ship Asia, staunch, sound 
and well manned, homeward bound, 
encountered a severe typhoon when 
about three days out from Yokohama. 
Sharp orders were given, every man 
to his post ; the captain on the bridge ; 
three men at the wheel, and frequent 
relays ; the ship facing the storm ; all 
engines working to their utmost. In 
this condition they fought the storm 
for fifty hours, and when this fearful 
hurricane subsided, the ship was strip- 
ped of all lifeboats, and everything 
else of an auxihary nature, and when 
the captain was able to leave his post 
of duty — ^the bridge — and reckonings 
were taken, it was found the ship was 
three hundred miles out of her course. 

[29] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

It is well said, all heroes are not 
soldiers — for the action of the captain 
of the Asia, and it is not an isolated 
instance, exhibited a heroism that is 
beyond compare. In the ordeal that 
required iihe full limit of his ability as 
a navigator; and in line of duty, like 
the true soldier, he stayed at his post 
until all danger had passed — although 
his sufferings were almost beyond hu- 
man endurance. 

As a further index of the strain on 
the sship, it is a well-known fact that 
all ocean-going craft are equipped 
with tiller chains, made of the best 
material obtainable, generally the 
best quality of Swedish iron. On the 
larger ships the rods from which the 
links are made are an inch or more in 
diameter, and after they are forged 
into the chain, the whole chain is sub- 
jected to the highest possible test by 
machinery designed and built for that 
purpose. An extra chain is always 

[30] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

carried and a new one is installed at 
the end of each trip. In this instance 
when the change was made and the 
chain measured it was found to have 
stretched five inches, another tangible 
evidence of the ship's terrific battle 
with the sea. 

The harbor of Yokohama is one of 
the largest and best protected in the 
Orient. From King's Head, the en- 
trance to the Bay, to the dock at Yo- 
kohama is forty-five miles; the bay 
averages about twenty miles wide, the 
extreme width being about thirty 
miles, including Mississippi Bay — the 
latter so named by the men in Com- 
modore Perry's fleet in 1854. 

Interested In Japan 

My first interest in this little Island 
Empire was created by an incident 
that occurred during my boyhood. 
An old gentleman visiting the village 

[31] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

where I then resided, and speaking 
on the street, told of a greater peril 
to us as a people and a nation than 
that then pending — the Civil War — 
and he was there to warn us, and 
while our civil strife would no doubt 
soon cease and its effects ultimately 
be neutralized; the other, unless 
checked or drastically regulated, 
would be a menace to us for all time. 
It was thus he referred to the admis- 
sion of the Oriental coolie, to this 
country. In graphic terms he stated 
how these Asiatics were swarming to 
our shores unrestrained, and unless 
immediate restrictive measures were 
adopted by our government he 
prophesied dire results would follow. 
He further called our attention to the 
fact that Commodore Perry had only 
recently, March, 1854, concluded the 
first treaty with Japan, whose people 
had shown in the negotiations much 
latent ability as diplomats and lead- 
ers. 

[S9] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

This was my first knowledge of the 
"Yellow Peril." I subsequently pro- 
cured a copy of the Narrative of the 
Expedition of an American Squad- 
ron to the China Sea and Japan un- 
der the command of Commodore M. 
C. Perry, United States Navy — ^he 
was a brother of Oliver Hazzard Per- 
ry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie 
in 1813. 

It was through the efforts of such 
orators, assisted by the people of the 
Pacific slope, that we finally succeed- 
ed in having the first restrictive laws' 
enacted by our Government. Dennis 
Kearney, the "sand lot orator" of San 
Francisco, one of the early labor lead- 
ers, and his associates in this move- 
ment, injected into the question its 
labor feature, thus making it a potent 
measure in the field of politics. This 
agitation created a temporary inter- 
est with the people of this country in 
matters "Oriental," but it was soon 

[33] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

forgotten by the masses, especially in 
the section east of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. The rapid strides in commer- 
cial development, following the close 
of the Civil War, occupied all of our 
attention, and we did not realize what 
the "little brown man" (the Japan- 
ese) across the sea had been doing in 
the interval, until they "called" China 
in 1894, and prosecuted a war to a 
successful conclusion. This, however, 
did not appear to alarm, or even sur- 
prise us as we also had our turn in 
China with the Boxer troubles, and 
were feeling rather "chesty" over the 
result— more so then than later when 
the amount of the indemnity was 
awarded and remitted by us. 

There has always been an uncer- 
tain friendship with China, and their 
guilds (Chinese labor unions) are 
boycotting us today. This is clearly 
shown in our exports to that country, 
which have been gradually shrinking. 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

We note that from a maximum of 
about $58,600,000 in 1905, they have 
declined to not exceeding $15,500,000 
for 1910, and our Department of 
Commerce and Labor is trying to 
find a logical reason but does not ap- 
parently wish to admit the real one. 
We lost the cotton piece goods trade 
to Germany on account of our not 
furnishing the kind of goods wanted 
by the Chinese, and Germany is now 
losing it by her undertaking to force 
a trade condition upon China that she 
or any other country would not stand 
for; with the result that the awaken- 
ing of the Orient is developing a new 
and perilous commercial condition, 
that bodes no good to the white manu- 
facturer of any commodity. The 
gradual increase in wages in the west- 
ern world is being reflected in the cost 
of production, and inspires an indus- 
trial conquest of the West by the 
Orient. Conceding, as we must, the 

[35] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

cleverness of the Chinese, their dili- 
gence, and their overwhelming num- 
bers and low standard of living will 
enable them, guided as they will be 
by the master hand of the Japanese, 
to meet any country in the world's 
open markets. 

This may not be another form of 
"Yellow Peril," but it is a possibihty. 

One of the difficulties with us as a 
nation as well as individuals is that 
we are too prone to "butt in" without 
first determining the real merits of 
the situation, and wihile this policy 
may be permissible in the shade of 
the Monroe Doctrine, it does not fit 
conditions in the Orient. It is evi- 
dent we shall have to improve our 
diplomatic service by giving it much 
better support, which will enable om* 
foreign representatives to reach a 
proper standing in the countries to 
which they are assigned. Then, and 
not until then, can we hope to get 

[36] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

facts upon which we can base our pol- 
icies affecting our over-sea commerce. 

Japan's Success 

This little Empire's success in her 
late wars with China and Russia 
shows conclusively what her material 
development has been since Commo- 
dore Perry concluded that first treaty 
in 1854. It is not war that has made 
Japan prominent commercially; for 
while that was an important factor in 
bringing her to the notice of the 
world, my observation leads me to 
the conclusion that it can be logically 
attributed to the fact that the Japan- 
ese are inherently and fundamentally 
a wonderful people. Their basis of 
action is always along well-defined 
lines. The child is taught and has 
been for hundreds of years to obey, 
also to perform some definite task. 
Thus obedience and labor follow it 
through life and hence there is (*) 

* Horace Fletcher. 

[37] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

"less crime, more physical dexterity 
and skill, and fewer notes out of har- 
mony, and more general happiness 
and consideration for their fellows — 
no sectional prejudice, a universal 
patriotism and respect for authority." 

Independent, but respectful, very 
little vice, no opium, and a minimum 
of liquor used all combine to preserve 
their physical and mental being in 
every possible way. This influence 
they are disseminating throughout 
their new provinces and China, and it 
is said the raising of the poppy in the 
latter country is rapidly decreasing 
and will be followed by a correspond- 
ing decrease in the use of opium by 
that people. 

I shall have something further to 
say of the Japanese as an individual, 
but now pass on to a partial descrip- 
tion of the country of this interesting 
people. 

[38] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

The Japanese Empire 

The area of Japan, including For- 
mosa, and the Pescador Islands 
(these islands were acquired from 
China in 1894 as indemnity) , is about 
148,000 square miles, and their last 
census, being that of 1910, showed a 
population of about 53,000,000 peo- 
ple, which is increasing at the rate of 
about one million per annum. The 
country is of volcanic formation, and 
it is authoritatively stated that less 
than twelve and one-half per cent is 
cultivable or arable lands, hence it 
will be seen that the greatest economy 
is not only necessary but absolutely 
imperative. An artizan's family in 
this country wastes enough in one day 
to support a family of the same num- 
ber in Japan for a Hke period. The 
rank and file are poor, and always 
have been so, but that does not sig- 
nify that they are stricken with pov- 
erty. Their wants are few, and they 

[39] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

are apparently quite satisfied with 
their simple life, which would not be 
considered tolerable, far less ideal, by 
us. Their homes contain none of the 
things we consider necessities, such as 
cooking or heating stoves, furnaces, 
bed, or the various utensils that are a 
part of our household furnishings. A 
mat, brazier, and some blankets con- 
stitute their house outfit and answers 
their immediate wants. The best ho- 
tels in Japan are conducted on the 
"American Plan," and by Japanese. 
The Imperial Hotel Company of Ja- 
pan have a line of hotels in the vari 
ous cities of the country, which are 
fairly well conducted, but the rates 
are generally higher than for a simi- 
lar class in this country. There is 
a good class of hotels on the Japanese 
plan in which the rates are moderate, 
and so are the accommodations for a 
white man. In the cheap hotels, or 
lodging houses for the poor class, the 

[40] 







£'1 




B^ 




" -! 




'^B .^-.««M«K*' .xS^ 


■:i';fsws»" 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

rates are from five sen (2l^c Ameri- 
can value) to twenty-five sen (12j4c) 
per night. In these places the soft ( ?) 
floor is the bed and a woolen blanket 
is furnished for the higher price only. 
The food is generally rice, fish, sea- 
weed and tea, some vegetables, fruit, 
and fowl if it can be obtained and is 
within their means, but meat, milk 
and butter are not generally used. 

The resources of Japan are not, as 
indicated, in ordinary agriculture, but 
rather in the close and careful culti- 
vation of the available lands ; rice, tea, 
and beans being their principal crops. 
There is', in addition, the cultivation 
of the mulberry tree for the silk 
worms. Some cereals are also raised, 
but they have no herds of animals or 
flocks of fowls, and it is only recently 
they have undertaken to supply milk 
and butter which is as yet of poor 
quality owing to having not ac- 
quired the taste or learned how to 

[41] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

produce and handle it. It is said the 
quality of Japanese tea, rice and silks 
is unsurpassed, most of which are ex- 
ported, cheaper grades being import- 
ed for home consumption thus swell- 
ing the volume of their customs state- 
ments. The price of rice wihich, as 
before stated, is a staple food, is quot- 
ed by the hyo (bag) at so many yen, 
sen, etc., and is now (1910) selling at 
about three cents per pound, or 
double the price of ten years ago. There 
are four or five grades, and the above 
price is for the best quality. Irish 
potatoes, also apples, are raised in the 
northern, and sweet potatoes in the 
southern part of Japan. 

The climate, owing to the ocean 
currents, varies to extremes in short 
distances. At Yokohama and Tokio 
it is about like the Carolinas, having 
about fifty-eight inches annual rain- 
fall, with a maximum temperature of 
98 degrees and a minimum of 15 de- 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

grees Fahrenheit ; while less than five 
hundred miles north and west they 
have a Siberian climate, and about 
double the distance south, in Formo- 
sa, it is semi-tropical. 

The island! of Formosa abounds 
in large forests of camphor trees, said 
to be the most valuable in the world. 
It also has some of the most desper- 
ate wild tribes of the world, but in 
the short time it and the Pescodores 
have been under the control of Japan 
these barbarous natives have been 
brought; into subjection. 

Japan proper has sixty-six cities, 
1^37 towns, 13,957 villages, about 
10,000 household tea factories, about 
400,000 house and other silk work 
shops, and fully 12,000 factories of 
various kinds employing over 1,000,- 
000 operatives, 2,200 commercial 
banks, 11,000 corporations and part- 
nerships; 5,000 miles of steam rail- 
ways, owned and operated by the 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Government, 2,400 merchant steam- 
ships, 6,000 merchant sailing vessels, 
23,000 sailing vessels, the latter of 
the old Japanese type, sampans, etc. 

The commerce of the country is 
principally on the sea, and its mer- 
chants spare no expense in extending 
it — their ships being seen in all ports 
of the Eastern Hemisphere, and they 
are constantly seeking an opportun- 
ity to reach new fields. 

Their money circulation is about 
$260,000,000, the medium being the 
yen and sen unit about one half of 
our dollar and cents. They have 
6,878 postoffices, 3,571 telegraph and 
723 telephone offices, and, commenc- 
ing with Yokohama fifty-seven years 
ago, they now have thirty-five ports 
open to the world. Their postal busi- 
ness has increased three hundred and 
fifty times since 1872, and the tele- 
graph 150 times since 1869. As stat- 
ed, these figures are for Japan proper, 

[44] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

and do not include Formosa, the dis- 
trict of Tairen, late port of Dalnay, 
or Korea. The resources of Japan 
are not wholly confined, as I have 
shown, to land industries, for they 
have over 500,000 men engaged in 
the deep sea fisheries' and seaweed 
industries, and as stated in a previous 
chapter, their boats are numbered by 
the thousands. A glance at these 
boatmen in the large harbors of 
Yokohama, Kobe, etc., on the Pacific, 
and those on the Yellow Sea and Sea 
of Japan, will impress the observer 
with the statements made by the advo- 
cates of ship subsidies and a larger 
American navy, that the men engaged 
in such work are already inured to 
the sea and are immediately available 
for ships of war. 

The seaweed industry is extensive, 
the entire coast line of Japan, 17,500 
miles, abounds in such plant life, there 
being over six hundred kinds, and 

[45] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

about five hundred factories, where 
the best varieties (Tengusa) are eon- 
verted into isiaglass, or jelly form. 
There are other grades which are con- 
verted into various forms. These are 
used for soups, jellies, sauces and as 
a general food. After being put 
through the usual method of clean- 
ing and manufacturing, the seaweed 
becomes of a white or flaky nature. 
The maximum price is about twenty- 
five cents per pound, while the cheap- 
er grades are as low as one cent per 
pound; the manufacturers paying 
from one-fourth of a cent to nine 
cents per pound for it in the raw state. 
It can be purchased at any of the 
supply stores in Japan. The raw ma- 
terial is secured in various ways such 
as, at some poiuts on the coast, by 
placing branches of trees in the sea 
to which it adheres. It is also gath- 
ered at low tide, with poles, and that 
growing on the rocks below tide- 

[46] 



1 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

water. What is said to be the most 
valuable can only be obtained by div- 
ing, which is generally done by wo- 
men, who are more expert than men. 
This product is one of Japan's most 
valuable assets, amounting to nearly 
two million dollars per annum. 

Another of Japan's useful pro- 
ducts is the bamboo, of which there 
are over two hundred varieties, about 
forty being indigenous. It is of a 
grass nature, and its growth is very 
rapid, being said to attain several feet 
in a day during the hot, wet summer 
weather. 

Bamboo is used for nearly every 
conceivable purpose ; the young 
sprouts are used for food, as we use 
asparagus; the older growths for 
frames for buildings, carrying poles, 
water and sewer pipes, flag-staffs, 
etc., etc. It attains its full height in 
one season, sometimes measuring six 
to eight inches in diameter and is gen- 
erally hollow. 

[47] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Means of Transportation 

As I have already mentioned, Japan 
has about five thousand miles of steam 
railways, owned, operated and con- 
trolled by the Government, which 
earned, in 1910, about $21,000,000.00 
(gold) or over four thousand dollars 
per mile, a high ratio as compared 
with roads in America. Their pass- 
enger rate is about two and one-third 
cents per mile, and freight rate from 
two and one-half to seven cents per 
ton mile. The gauge is fifty inches, 
and they use about fifty-pound T 
rail. The equipment is English style 
— ^side door entrance compartments, 
smaU coaches and turnstiles at the sta- 
tions, where all tickets are punched. 
The trains have no conductors, but 
follow the English form in having 
guards, and the tickets taken up at 
the end of the route. The equipment 
and service is generally poor, as com- 
pared with our standard lines, but it 

[48] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

is improving. They also have about 
six hundred miles of electric lines, 
fare two and one-half cents per mile. 
It being a mountainous country, the 
building of railroads is expensive, so 
many tunnels being necessary. Be- 
tween Yokohama and Kobe, a dis- 
tance of three hundred and sixty- 
seven miles, there are twenty-nine 
tunnels. This necessitates heavy out- 
lays in protecting the lines against 
freshets which are frequent and 
severe, and make construction and 
maintenance very expensive. The 
coastwise traffic is really the most 
important in Japan, as, for reasons 
stated, they have naturally resorted 
to water transportation. The city of 
Tokio has about twenty miles of 
canals which accommodate the com- 
merce of that great city of upwards 
of two million people and covers over 
one hundred square miles in area. 
The Sumida River empties into 

[49] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

these canals, and is the principal 
stream that drains the watershed trib- 
utary to Tokio Bay. Like all moun- 
tain streams, it is dangerous, subject- 
ing the city of Tokio and surround- 
ing country to disastrous floods, and 
there does not appear to be any way 
of preventing it. Ocean shipping 
does not readh Tokio proper, the 
channel in Tokio Bay not being of 
sufiicient depth, therefore, all over- 
sea traffic must be trans-shipped in 
Yokohama Bay or some distance out 
from Tokio proper, or to Yokohama 
and thence by rail, but owing to the 
difference in cost the latter is seldom 
done. Tokio Bay is of small area 
and the water shallow, except where 
the channel is dredged to enable ves- 
sels to reach the shipyards and the 
forts, of which there are five, ail with- 
in sight of the railroad passing be- 
tween Yokohama and Tokio, a dis- 
tance of about eighteen miles. 

[50] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

Public Safety 

Probably in no country in the 
world is personal safety so well as- 
sured as in Japan; the only require- 
ment being that the individual shall 
respect the authorities and treat the 
people with the simple consideration 
that is always due one person to- 
wards another in any country. I had 
a personal illustration of this in at- 
tending a reception one evening in 
Tokio, and returning to my hotel at 
midnight, a distance of over six miles 
through some of the poorest sections 
of the city, with only the jinrikisha 
coolie who could not speak a word of 
English. I was not only unmolested, 
but in fact apparently unnoticed. 

Temples and Shrines of Japan 

The temples and shrines are nu- 
merous, costly and various, and a brief 
description of one will suffice for all. 
Asakusa Temple of the Shinto faith 

[51] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

in Tokio, said to be over four hun- 
dred years old, is one of the largest 
in the Empire and tradition says it 
was erected to the God of Demons. 
It is visited by thousands daily. We 
were rehably informed that the daily 
free offerings, which are thrown into 
a large hopper located in front of the 
altar, averaged three hundred yen 
(one hundred and fifty dollars, gold) . 
It, no doubt, was' a gorgeous place 
when new, but like all the others, age, 
lack of proper care and free run of 
the populace and fowls has had its 
effect, and one has no inclination to 
tarry long in the immediate vicinity. 
This manner of worship is formal and 
perfunctory, and with the hordes of 
people, many of the lower class, pass- 
ing through the place, it is not alto- 
gether attractive. 

The original work on these temples 
shows wonderful handicraft. Some 
of the lacquered pillars, and other 

[52] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

parts that have been exposed to the 
elements for centuries, still retain 
their brightness and perfect form. I 
may mention for the purpose of fur- 
ther explaining the temples and mau- 
soleums in Shiba Park, Tokio, which 
were erected by the Shoguns, some 
of them two or three hundred years 
agjo and which are remarkably well 
preserved, are striking examples of 
the wealth that was lavished upon 
such structures. 

I asked our guide how many tem- 
ples and shrines there were in Japan, 
and later he told me that an approxi- 
mate estimate placed them at twenty 
thousand. I then enquired what they 
cost ; he stated, after consulting some 
authority, that they were worth two 
billion yen (one billion dollars, gold) . 
I intimated if they could find a mar- 
ket it would be a good stroke of busi- 
ness to sell them, and apply the 
money on their national debt or in 

[53] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

the purchase of some much needed 
territory, as such a course would be 
much less expensive than acquiring it 
by force of arms, and while he did not 
relish my levity in taking such lib- 
erties with Japanese affairs, he coun- 
tered by asking what particular piece 
or parcel of country I had in mind, 
that they could purchase. I answer- 
ed, "Southern Manchuria." He re- 
plied they had that now, but could 
use the Philippines, if we would sell 
them, and give a hundred years time. 
I said I could see no objection to that 
providing England would endorse 
Japan's note. 

My inquiries and suggestions, 
while made facetiously, were intend- 
ed to bring out a point in internation- 
al affairs. The guide in question is 
a graduate both of the University of 
Michigan and the University of Berk- 
eley, California. How deep does the 
representative Japanese consider 

[54] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

they are in Manchuria, and what are 
their real views regarding the Phil- 
ippines? My conclusions are, and 
these points were fairly developed in 
this conversation which was later con* 
firmed hy even better authority, as 
I will mention later, that the thinking 
class, the people who control Japan's 
affairs, are confident of their position 
in the Orient, and will deal with the 
Korea and Manchuria questions as 
they are presented. They are play- 
ing a great diplomatic game, and will 
be supported by the powers who are 
vitally interested in their success. 
They do not want the Philippines 
now, but in working out this great 
Oriental problem they may some time 
need them. If so, we will, providing 
we gauge such affairs properly, see 
the necessity of relinquishing these 
islands to a nation which knows how to 
handle such peoples. I have no doubt 
it will all be worked out along proper 

[5&] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

lines carefully considered, and in the 
best interests of all concerned. How- 
ever, there is much to be done by us 
if an amicable parity is to be pre- 
served, for there is no quarter of the 
globe at this time where human prog- 
ress is so rapid as in the Orient. 

Formed A Ne^v Acquaintance 

During my stay in Japan I met 
an American from one of our East- 
ern states, who graduated from Yale 
and went to Japan in the early eigh- 
ties, married a Japanese lady of rank, 
and has become to every intent and 
purpose Japanese. The only excep- 
tion to this, if it may be so considered, 
is that he is educating their children 
in his native country. The title of 
this book was suggested by my sev- 
eral conferences with this gentleman, 
"Japan, A Child of the World's Old 
Age," for he said that during his 
long residence among them and be- 

[56] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

coming part of them, a citizen of their 
country, studying them and their his- 
tory and noting their characteristics, 
he was firmly convinced that they 
possess the wisdom of the ages, and 
cleverness of the modern diplomat. 
These he bases upon heredity, as 
measured by results. Such conclu- 
sions are not superficially drawn, or 
the remarks a mere figure of speech, 
for there is no other nation which has 
exhibited such inherent power in de- 
velopment, both commercially and at 
arms, in the limited period since they 
were born into the world of the new 
civilization. 

In the awakening Japan has adopt- 
ed the practical and intense, which, 
after all, is the basis of any country's 
success. Indeed, these people carry 
these attributes into their every act 
from the cradle to the grave; for, as 
previously stated, their fundamentals 
are obedience, respectfulness, and re- 

[57] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

sponsibility. The absence of these 
great dharaeteristics in our people is 
the bane of our nation's life. Our 
children and youths, too often, do not 
recognize authority, for they are not 
so taught; the majority leave school 
early, before definite character is 
formed, and are not controlled at 
home, which results in the habit of 
disobedience and extravagance. But 
with the Japanese training, coupled 
with our great resources, mental, 
physical and material, we would in- 
deed be a great people. In the ab- 
sence of such training Ave are prac- 
tically drifting into a great unknown. 
Let us, therefore, take heed and 
profit by example while we may. 

In America we are too much en- 
gaged in our chameleon-like politics 
to become statesmen, and thereby 
lend our ability in the direction of in- 
stituting measures that will properly 
protect our country and our people. 

[58] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

Our press and people should profit by 
the (*) "example of Japan, which has 
set the boors of the world to thinking, 
caused them to take their forefeet out 
of the trough, look up to the sun and 
light of a dawning civilization, and 
accept the simple teachings of Christ, 
Buddha and common sense," and not 
talk of war, or boast of conquest. 
Rather, we should properly support 
our foreign representatives, and 
thereby keep in touch with interna- 
tional economics. Look to the far 
East and note the necessity for closer 
friendly relations, if our over-sea and 
other interests are to be conserved. 

A well-known and able writer on 
the Orient, has said, "That the Far 
Eastern question presents the most 
important issue with which the world 
now has to deal. No other question 
covers so broad a field, includes forces 
so complex and diverse, has such in- 

*Horace Fletcher. 

[59] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OP 

herent power. Its solution cannot 
fail to materially affect the future of 
all nations, and influence the destiny 
of the whole human race," and, as he 
further says, "If these premises are 
granted, it seems diflicult to exagger- 
ate the importance of events."* We 
are now viewing these matters with 
complacent serenity, but this is only 
because we are too engrossed in our 
immediate affairs and have not given 
heed to matters that are being shaped 
in the great trend of the world's de- 
velopment. 

These are some of the impressions 
gained in the conference with my 
American - Japanese acquaintance, 
and, confirmed by the conditions as I 
found them by personal contact and 
delving into their history. This 
American-Japanese gentleman was 
very earnest in his desire that the 
American people, those of the United 

*Millard. 

[60] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

States as well as Canada, should ar- 
rive at a better understanding of the 
Japanese people and nation, so that 
there might be no misunderstanding 
as to the motives underlying the ac- 
tion of the countries concerned in car- 
rying out their policies. The danger 
sometimes Created by the thoughtless 
writer or deliberate demagogue would 
thereby be reduced, if not practically 
neutralized. Even appreciating that 
there are jingoes in Japan and other 
portions of the Orient as well as here, 
we must admit that Japan has a broad 
national policy, well conceived, that 
will be followed; he said there must 
be no doubt that their present formid- 
able national debt, which is prac- 
tically and proportionately no great- 
er than that of England, was not 
an embarrassing factor in their na- 
tional life, and it was his view that 
the present tax basis, created by 
the recent wars, is being gradually 

[61] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

reduced, and a normal condition will 
be reached in due time and without 
any national embarrassment. 

The present comparatively high 
cost of living should not be wholly at- 
tributed to the existing tax rate, but 
rather to conditions prevalent 
throughout the world, all countries 
and peoples being similarly affected. 
This is confirmed by the conditions 
now existing in Russia and Asia, and 
also applies to our own country. The 
present Japanese basis of wages is 
about as follows: 

Bricklayers, 35 cents per day (Amer- 
ican gold) . 
Masons, 30 cents per day (American 

gold) . 
Blacksmiths, 25 cents per day (Amer- 
ican gold) . 
Printers, 30 cents a day (American 

gold) . 
Carpenters, 40 cents per day (Ameri- 
can gold) . 

[62] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

Weavers, 20 cents per day (Ameri- 
can gold) . 

Silversmiths, 25 cents per day (Amer- 
ican gold). 

Shoemakers, 30 cents per day (Amer- 
ican gold). 

Servants (men) $4 per month 
(American gold). 

Servants (women), $1.75 per month 
(American gold). 

Silkworm breeders, $5 per month 
(American gold). 

Raw Silk Spinners, $2 per month 
(American gold). 

Farm laborers, $2 per month (Amer- 
ican gold) and they all board them- 
selves'. 

Expenses 

House rent, 50 cents per month 

(American gold). 
Rice, $1.75 per month (Ajnerican 

gold). 
Fuel and Light, 25 cents per month 

(American gold). 

[63] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Fish, 40 cents per month (American 
gold) . 

Tobacco, 15 cents per month (Amer- 
ican gold). 

Bath, 15 cents per month (American 
gold). 

Vegetables, 40 cents per month 
(American gold). 

Sundries, which includes taxes, $2.00 
per month (American gold). 

Total, $5.60. 

It will be noted that some classes 
of wage earners must trim the cor- 
ners pretty close to bring their ex- 
penses within their incomes, as the 
sundries do not make very much al- 
lowance for clothes. However, this 
class is never overdressed. As I have 
previously indicated the Japanese are 
3l frugal people, utilizing every avail- 
able factor within their reach and 
along the most economical lines, al- 
ways apparently having in mind the 

[64] 



U3 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

good old maxim, "no waste, no 
want"; for while they are poor yet 
poverty is practically unknown. 

I found the representative Japan- 
ese to be quite frank in their views as 
to our status in the Orient, that prac- 
tically we have none. The "open 
door" is considered a huge joke, and 
a poHcy of the Orient for the Orien- 
tals is openly declared and practically 
applied. 

The Japanese government is' fun- 
damentally fraternal and paternal, 
the former being represented in their 
industrial policy, where the weak in- 
dividual or the collective effort is 
strengthened by the government's 
hand. Preference is shown in a 
marked degree, even being applied 
to the remission of duties, where such 
an advantage is desirable or neces- 
sary. The latter is shoWn in their 
close co-operation, for it is a well- 
known fact that the individual Jap- 

[66] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

anese is not a strong factor, but in 
pairs they are formidable in many 
fields of endeavor. Therefore, under 
such conditions it is clear the Orient 
is not a "white man's country." 

Before passing on to a more gen- 
eral view of the Japanese national 
policy, I desire to give a further de- 
scription of their country, and some 
characteristics of the people. Vol- 
umes have been written about Japan, 
for it is a country replete with inter- 
esting data that is food for the writ- 
er, for it abounds in ancient and mod- 
ern fact and fiction, and with all is so 
quaint in its environment that it pre- 
sents an unlimited field for the "ro- 
mancer" especially. But in none of 
the records of the modern writers 
have I, so far, discovered a plain, true 
version of their real everyday vir- 
tues. I have read of and seen their 
swarms of children and am told that 
in some sections of the large cities 

[66] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

only from sixty to seventy-five per 
cent of them are legitimate. How 
would that compare with some of our 
American cities? But whatever the 
comparison may be from the stand- 
point of maternity, we must admit the 
Japanese child is the best situated. 
History tells us that Yokohama has 
the only foundling home in all Japan, 
and at the close of the Japan-Russian 
war (1905) it contained about four 
thousand orphan children. Today it 
is practically deserted. Why? Be- 
cause the Japanese are builders, and 
raisers of large families. Why? First, 
it is' a part of their belief that it gives 
them a better standing with their 
Emperor and in the community. Sec- 
ond, they feel the adopted child 
should have home training. Third, 
he or she may inherit rank or means. 
Fourth, they can use them; for a 
Japanese child (unlike our own) is 
always useful, and as I have already 

[67] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

said, I never saw so many poor peo- 
ple as in Japan, and so little poverty ; 
for tliey all work and like it. It is 
the quite general impression in this 
country that the Japanese people are 
lax morally; possibly so from our 
point of view, but, from a general 
standporat it is not so, their view- 
point having a different angle from 
ours. In fact, the Japanese way is 
fully as good as the American, and 
much more practical, being almost 
wholly devoid of false modesty, and, 
indeed, will compare well with all oth- 
tT civilized countries. Their honesty 
and trustworthiness have been some- 
times questioned, but as some eminent 
writers have well named them they 
are the "Yankees of the East," and 
can both drive a bargain and hew 
close to the line. 

The statement that Chinamen sup- 
plant the Japanese in places of trust, 
such as tellers in banks, cashiers in 

[68] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

hotels, stores, etc., is true only to a 
limited extent, for it is a well-known 
fact that the Chinaman is the best 
judge of money in the Orient. He 
has to be, as his country has more va- 
rieties of and poorer money than any 
country on earth. Further, the 
Chinaman is naturally a good ac- 
countant, being patient and painstak- 
ing, and will follow a problem to a 
conclusion without questioning the 
motive that prompts the action of his 
superior or employer. It is charac- 
teristic of him to do, without asking 
the reason why. 

Some say that the Japanese are 
not sincere, and that their courteous' 
bearing is artificial. This is not true, 
for it is natural and inherent, and is 
always shown in the youngest as well 
as in the oldest, royalty as well as in 
the most humble. 

It is also said they are not affec- 
tionate. It is true that their saluta- 

[69] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

tions are different from ours in that 
they do not shake hands, or kiss. 
Above all else they are sanitary, and 
carry out that principle to the fullest 
extent, instituting every possible 
measure to which they have access 
to be clean and avoid disease. (*) 
"They are clean for the personal sat- 
isfaction of being clean, but such 
cleanliness, in which the Japanese 
excel the rest of the world, has noth- 
ing to do with godliness. There are 
over eleven hundred public baths in 
the city of Tokio, in which it is cal- 
culated over five hundred thousand 
persons bathe daily. Generally, not 
always, a barrier separates the sexes 
from each other — but, it is said, 
the nude is seen in Japan but not 
looked at." 

FloTvers 

The Japanese are very fond of 



^Things Japanese. 

[70] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

flowers. It is sometimes said their 
flowers are without fragrance, but 
that is far from the truth, for the 
plum blossom, wild rose, lilies, or- 
chids, and many more are as fragrant 
as those of other countries. Their 
love of flowers prompts' them, and 
they have been doing this for years, 
to plant and carefully cultivate hun- 
dreds of different varieties. The 
cherry, of which there are the single 
and double blossoms, is carefully 
trained for the blossoms alone as it 
bears no fruit. The cherry blossom 
season, first half of April, is the oc- 
casion of a national holiday when 
charming flower festivals are ar- 
ranged, and pilgrimages are made by 
this most holiday-loving people in 
the world. Their flower seasons are 
almost continuous : January, the plum 
blossoms, which last to March; then 
the cherry, during the first half of 
April are grand beyond compare ; for 

[71] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

it would seem that in addition to the 
long rows of cherry trees, some of 
them forty feet high and hundreds of 
year old, forming avenues of delight, 
planted in every nook and cor- 
ner and as carefully cherished as a 
child, being thoroughly enjoyed by 
all. The color of the blossoms is a 
light pink. During the last half of 
April and the beginning of May they 
have the tree peony. During May 
the azalea and wistaria. The iris in 
June; convolvulus in July. In 
August the lotus; the chrysanthe- 
mum in November, having the most 
beautiful of all foliage. Although I 
have only enumerated some of the 
principal flowers and those indigen- 
ous to that country, it is rightly 
named the "Flowery Kingdom." 

Holidays 

The Japanese have many holidays, 
the principal ones from January first 

[73] 



i 




Fusiyama — Sacred Mountain of Japan 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

to the third, inclusive, are thanksgiving 
days', for which elaborate preparation 
is made, sometimes in advance. Dur- 
ing the three days, they have, if they 
can afford it, a large fish called the 
buri, which has been salted and hung 
up to cure ready for the occasion. 
They also have rice cakes, fish soup 
and a dessert called mochi, made from 
rice, and is a sort of pudding. They 
decorate elaborately for these occa- 
sions, and hke some of us, they watch 
the old year out with the ringing of 
bells and other means of jollity. This 
is the time, also, when they pay their 
debts, and it is a rule and custom, 
that if debtors have not sufficient 
means at hand to properly cancel their 
indebtedness, they must sell their per- 
sonal effects for such purpose, as it 
is a lasting disgrace to go into the 
new year unless free of debt. Cer- 
tainly a commendable custom. 

[73] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Pilgrims 

As I have before indicated, a large 
percentage of the people of Japan 
are poor, from our point of view, 
which is a condition that has obtained 
for hundreds of years. Their earn- 
ings are so small they cannot pur- 
chase anything but the actual neces- 
sities, yet possessing the element of 
curiosity in some degree that is in- 
herent in the whole human race, they 
form bands or associations, composed 
of men, women and children, electing 
a leader, and delegate a certain num- 
ber of the association each year to 
join their pilgrim or excursion bands', 
outfitting such members with the 
barest necessities, before they strike 
• out for a trek through the country. 

It is necessary to here state that 
each of the members of these pilgrim 
associations contribute to a common 
fund, which is' used in assisting the 
chosen number on their journey, 

[74] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

therefore, these pilgrims are not alto- 
gether indigent, or in other words, 
these excursionists or pilgrims I am 
trying to describe, are not "hoboes." 
The privilege of going on the journey 
is decided by allotment, giving all 
members an opportunity of ultimate- 
ly making the trip. They visit the 
large cities, seashore, the temples and 
shrines. Many go to Fugi (the 
sacred mountain of Japan) and toil 
up its vast slopes until they reach the 
old crater, and the shrines that have 
been established there. The pilgrims 
stop at the various inns' and shelters 
along the route, many of these being 
maintained by such patronage. Both 
sexes usually have a uniform dress, 
and one can hardly distinguish the 
men from the women ; this consists of 
a head covering in the shape of a 
broad very sloping rim hat, made of 
rice straw or flag, white cotton 
clothes', short pants and bare feet. 

[75] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Their earnestness in sight-seeing eas- 
ily distinguishes them, and as a rule 
they conduct themselves in such an 
orderly manner as to leave pleasant 
records in their trail. They do not, 
however, enjoy as many of the privi- 
leges as are accorded the white for- 
eign visitor, such as having access to 
some of the temples and places of in- 
terest. As they cannot give contribu- 
tions, they must be satisfied in gazing 
at these from a distance. It is said 
this practice and manner of making 
these pilgrimages is of long standing. 
However, this with many other old 
customs is likely to change with the 
progress of the country, but we saw 
them in nearly every city and town 
we visited, and could see the bands 
as we passed in the train. 

Fuji 

The English name for this greatly 
sacred mountain of Japan is Fusi- 

[76] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

yama. It is about sixty miles from 
Yokohama or Tokio, and rises to a 
height of 12,365 feet above the sea 
level. It is volcanic and the latest 
eruption of which history records was 
from December, 1707, to January, 
1708. The top is perpetually covered 
with snow, and is visible from long 
distances, plainly so from Yokohama, 
Tokio, Kobe, and the sea, which dis- 
tances are estimated from sixty to 
one hundred miles. In the bright 
sunlight the scene is indeed beautiful. 
Fugi is visited by from twenty to 
twenty-five thousand people yearly, 
mostly pilgrims. There are ten rest 
stations on the way up to the crater, 
any everyone making the trip must 
be outfitted with provisions and other 
necessities to last at least ten days, 
and be prepared for a hard tramp. 
There are several ways of reaching 
the base of the mountain. I went out 
by rail to Gotemba station, about 

{77] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

sixty miles from Yokohama. As I 
would then have to drive about ten 
miles to reach the first mountain sta- 
tion, I concluded to forego the pleas- 
ure of ascending in the "pilgrim 
path," so retraced my steps, and 
viewed its beauties from afar. It is 
said the first white woman (English) 
made the ascent in October, 1867. 

There is a great deal of tradition 
and romancing in connection with 
this great attraction of Japan, and 
while none of the descriptions I have 
read in any way exaggerates or over- 
describes its beauties, I am of the be- 
lief that its attractions are materially 
enhanced by distance. 

Earthquakes 

It is said that Japan has on an 
average about two earthquake trem- 
ors every twenty-four hours, and it is 
about the first thing the foreign 
traveler desires to experience on land- 

[78] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

ing in that country. They will go 
through the first one with all the sang 
froid with which such people are 
usually equipped, hut after experi- 
encing a few, be they ever so slight, 
they do not care for more. Some of 
the later and most severe seismic dis- 
turbances occurred in 1855 and 1879, 
when himdreds of people were killed, 
and milHons of dollars in property 
was destroyed. An American lady 
missionary who was located near the 
Inland Sea during the quake of 1879 
told us of her experience. She stated 
that they had forty-seven distinct 
shocks during one night, which de- 
stroyed all their furniture except that 
made of bamboo, and it was fortunate 
their house was constructed of this 
material, otherwise that, too, would 
ha,ve been destroyed. We noticed the 
tremors at various times, but none 
were severe. Some of the Japanese 
colleges now have a Professor of 

[79] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

"Seismic Influences" and great at- 
tention is given to this feature, as 
well as others, such as land slides, etc., 
which menace this volcanic country. 

Kamakura 

It has been calculated that ninety 
per cent of the foreign visitors to 
Japan make pilgrimages to this spot, 
whose principal attraction is the great 
iBuddha (Daibutsu), and that a very 
large percentage of these people 
write or attempt to describe it in some 
way. I shall be no exception to the 
rule. 

It is without question one of the 
wonders of the world, and, viewing it 
from a modern angle, it is unique, but 
I question the motive that prompted 
its inception, and the judgment of its 
builders in making such an invest- 
ment. But it is from an architectural 
viewpoint that it most interested me, 
and for the purpose of illustration 

[80] 







Great Buddha — Kamakura, Japan 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 



and information I will give the di- 
mensions and description as published 
in the various guides, etc. Murray's 
Hand Book of Japan is' said to be the 
most reliable, and gives figures as 
follows : 

Height 49 ft. 7 in. 

Circumference 97 " 2 

Length of face 8 " 5 

Width from ear to ear. . .17 " 9 
Round white (silver) boss 

on forehead 1 " 3 

Length of eye 3 " 11 

Length of brow 4 " 2 

Length of ear 6 " 6 

Length of nose 3 " 9 

Width of mouth 3 " 2 

Height of bump of wis- 
dom 9 

Diameter of bump 2 " 4 

Curls (of which there are 

30) , height 9 

Diameter of curls 1 

Length from knee to knee.35 " 8 
Circumference of thumb. . 8 " 

[81] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

"The eyes are of pure gold and the 
silver boss (in center of forehead) 
weighs thirty pounds'. The image is 
formed of sheets of bronze cast sepa- 
rately, brazed together, and finished 
off on the outside with a chisel. The 
hollow interior of the image contains 
a small shrine, and a ladder leads up 
to the head." At the top of the lad- 
der there is a platform for people to 
stand upon. There is also a window 
on the back that affords some light. 

After reading and hearing so much 
about this wonderful image, the first 
view of it is usually disappointing to 
the visitor, yet it is difficult to explain 
why or in what particular ; but many, 
like myself, returned to review it, and 
retired, invariably, with a more satis- 
factory impression. For as some poet 
has said, "a statue solid set and 
moulded into colossal calm," and as 
Murray says: "No other gives such 
an impression of majesty, or so truly 

[83] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

symbolizes the central idea of Bud- 
dhism — the spiritual peace which 
comes of perfected knowledge and 
the subjugation of all passion." 

This old town of Kamakura, lying 
on a bay of the Pacific Ocean about 
twenty miles south from Yokohama 
by rail, is now only a small village of 
hardly 3,000 people, although at one 
time, during the 12th to the 15th cen- 
tury, it was the capital of eastern 
Japan, with a population, it is' said, 
of over one million. But it has been 
sacked and burned, and twice inun- 
dated by the sea, and so it is now but 
a shadow of its former self, only the 
Great Buddha, with some other 
ancient "glories," a few families, and 
a good hotel, are about all that now 
remain of this ancient metropolis. 

Christianity 

I shall not undertake to give any 
historical details of Christianity in 

[83] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Japan, for it covers such a broad field 
and period of time co-ordinate with 
other countries of the Orient. I can, 
therefore, only mention briefly some 
of the records. The Portuguese Jesu- 
its entered Japan early in 1549, and 
were quite successful at first in gain- 
ing converts, but discord arose be- 
tween them and the Spanish Friars, 
resulting in suppressing Christianity 
throughout the most of Japan in 
1587-97. This was done by Hide- 
yoshi, called in history the Napoleon 
of Japan. This action by Hideyoshi 
is said to have been brought about by 
a bigoted Buddhist priest and the in- 
discretions of a Spanish sailor, who 
bragged of Spanish conquests in 
other parts of the world by sending 
priests in advance and following up 
with an army. 

There was a respite from such 
persecutions for a few years or until 
the establishment of the Shogunate 

£84] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

in 1614, when Christianity was again 
suppressed, and it was thought all 
Christians had been killed or deport- 
ed. Some, however, were left behind 
and others came, and although they 
were still persecuted, during the next 
thirty years they increased until it is 
said they numbered 300,000. But it 
resulted in the Japanese government 
pursuing the work of suppression and 
final isolation of the Empire, which 
i^ey thought would effectually ex- 
clude the Christians. It did not have 
the effect hoped for, however, for 
after being driven out of the country 
and locating on a nearby island, they 
subsequently returned to Japan after 
a long period of waiting. In 1865 
there were found several colonies of 
Christians whose forefathers had not 
left Japan in accordance with the 
edict of the government promulgated 
two centuries before. 

[85] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Persecution of the Christians still 
followed during the years between 
1867 and 1870, their houses and prop- 
erty were destroyed and the people 
imprisoned, but were liberated in 1873 
About 1859 the English and Ameri- 
can churches sent representatives to 
Japan and the work has since been 
prosecuted by the Christian churches 
of the world. It would seem that their 
efforts have, however, met with in- 
different success, for upon inquiry I 
was given various approximate esti- 
mates of the number of those profess- 
ing Christianity at the present time, 
and it varied from one hundred thou- 
sand to one hundred and seventy-five 
thousand in the whole Empire. 

*"Has not the whole attitude of the 
Tar Eastern mind with regard to the 
supernatural been aptly described as 
one of 'politeness towards possibili- 
ties?' Doubtless this natural disin- 

* Things Japanese. 

[86] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

clination to a spiritual religion on the 
part of the Japanese and Chinese is 
aided and abetted by local causes." 

The foregoing confirms my obser- 
vation, which is that the conduct of 
the so-called Christian nations, and of 
some individuals grabbing everything 
in sight in that Oriental land often 
by not the courtesy of "by your 
leave," and by failing to extend to 
the Japanese, even in their own coun- 
try, the recognition and amenities due 
them. This is shown in many in- 
stances by foreigners acquiring fran- 
chises in lands for churches, clubs, 
schools, golf grounds, race tracks, 
etc., and possibly ignoring or exclud- 
ing the Japanese gentlemen that in- 
terceded in their behalf, to enable 
them to obtain such concessions. 
However, I am led to believe, after 
a somewhat extensive study of the 
situation and the people, that a large 
part of the difficulty lies in the nature 

[87] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

of the people. The Japanese are so 
intensely practical along all lines, 
that in the particular acceptance of 
Christianity they are obviously be- 
lievers in "things seen." 

Missionaries in Japan told me that 
Japanese boys and girls would attend 
their schools, churches and missions 
and be very studious, making fine 
progress in the work, but the moment 
they thought they had exhausted the 
benefits to be derived from such at- 
tendance, they would leave. The 
apparent conclusion reached is that 
the missionaries will in future give 
more attention to the mechanical 
feature than has been done in the past, 
as greater and better results are ob- 
tained through such channels. Some- 
thing in the way of illustrations, in 
mechanics, moving pictures, etc., 
leave a more lasting impression on 
their minds. 

It is indeed gratifying to know that 

[88] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

the excellent school system of Japan, 
which in grades and efficiency is near- 
ly equal to, as it is somewhat pat- 
terned after ours, is largely the result 
of the efforts of the whole Christian 
world, and if such effort is not repre- 
sented by actual converts in numbers 
it is reflected in the substantial man- 
ner I have stated. 

Buddhism 

Some writers have compared Bud- 
dhism with the Roman Catholic cere- 
monials. But it is wrong, as it bears 
no relation to the Christian faith, for 
as Chamberlain says in "Things 
Japanese," "Self perfectionment is 
the means of salvation, not the vica- 
rious sufferings of a Redeemer." One 
is a faith in life eternal, the other is a 
belief in annihilation. 

^Buddhism, like Confucianism, is of 
the great Indian beliefs, and the 
actual date it was introduced into 

[89] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Japan is somewhat obscure. Con- 
fucianism is almost obsolete in that 
country at the present time. 

In practice Buddhism in Japan is 
a mere matter of forai, where "they 
bow to wood and stone." Its prin- 
ciples, or what it stands for, are no 
longer taught in that country. From 
the prince to the pauper, however, 
they worship on lines of tradition, 
having a firm belief in it, and follow- 
ing it implicitly; and it is' the domi- 
nant factor in the lives of a large per- 
centage of the Japanese people both 
at home and abroad. 

Shintoism 

The "way of the Gods" is th(^ usual 
name for this form of nature worship. 
Shintoism preceded Buddhism in Ja- 
pan. It is, like Buddhism, not a re- 
ligion but rather a homage paid to 
the sun, moon, stars and the elements ; 
where they have the goddesses of 

[90] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

food, pestilence and other deities pre- 
siding over every conceivable thing. 
Its devotees, as in Buddhism, and 
Confucianism, have no faith in a here- 
after. In their temples they have 
mirrors in front of the altars, and, like 
Buddhism, worship at the altars is a 
matter of form, and the average vis- 
itor is unable to distinguish any dif- 
ference between the two. 

The Shoguns 

This means — 'in a literal sense — ^the 
great man, or major general in con- 
trol, and from about the twelfth cen- 
tury to 1868 — after a lapse of about 
seven hundred years — there were 
various dynasties of Shoguns repre- 
senting the old Japan, under the 
feudal system, and it was' with these 
people that Commodore Perry nego- 
tiated the first treaty of amity and 
opened Yokohama and other ports of 
Japan to the world. About this time, 

[91] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

1854, or during Commodore Perry's 
first visit in 1853, it was found that 
the Shogun regime was tottering, 
and it was partially for this reason 
that our expedition was so successful 
in its negotiations. Our action was 
followed by England, France and 
Russia. Subsequently the Shoguns 
sent embassies to this country and 
Europe. 

In the negotiations and treating 
with these people, who for centuries 
prior to Commodore Perry's visit had 
excluded all foreigners, especially 
from the interior of their country, and 
thereby deprived themselves of all 
opportunity to learn the ways of the 
world, it was found they were very 
astute, natural diplomats, and born 
leaders. It was subsequently serious- 
ly considered to abrogate the treaties 
they had made, deport all foreigners 
and return to their former exclusive- 
ness ; for be it understood that Japan 

[92] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

was not, at that time, without its 
"other party," possibly the first "in- 
surgents." It is believed that the 
representatives sent to the foreign 
countries', who displayed the same 
eagerness for knowledge then as they 
do now, and the anti-Shogun party, 
together with political and other in- 
fluences, were the causes that ulti- 
mately resulted in the overthrow of 
the Shogun dynasty. This was mani- 
fest in 1863 when, in name of the 
party in power, the Count of Yedo 
(Tokio) proposed to again establish 
the old Japan and close her doors to 
all, and make it "Japan for the Ja- 
panese." But the most enlightened 
of the people, the scholars of the coun- 
try, triumphed in this revolution, 
establishing an oligarchy. Their suc- 
cess in holding to the treaties and 
obligations previously formed with 
the outside world was the first Japan- 
ese surprise experienced by the people 

[93] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

of the countries directly interested. 
And it was here that Japan took up 
modernism, and she has continued to 
extract from it that which she can suc- 
cessfully use, showing fine distinctions 
in her selections. The complete down- 
fall of the Shogun party and its re- 
trogressive influence took place in 
1868. 

In 1889 a Constitution was granted 
and a Diet established which consists 
of two houses, the Government, there- 
fore, being vested in the people whose 
property qualification entitles them 
to the right of the franchise. This 
only covers about two per cent of the 
entire population, so the power rests 
really in the hands of the nobihty. 
The lower house consists of about 
three hundred and seventy-five mem- 
bers, who receive a yearly allowance 
of 2000 yen ($1000 gold). The ad- 
ministration is divided into depart- 
ments, a certain number constitutes 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

the cabinet, which is in control of the 
government. The other body is the 
Privy Council, appointed by the Em- 
peror. The officers consist of one 
President, one Vice-President, twen- 
ty-five Councillors, with one Secretary 
and five assistants. This council is 
made up of "personages who have 
rendered signal service to the state," 
and have had much experience in 
affairs, and it has jurisdiction which 
gives it great power under the con- 
stitution. 

The Cabinet consists of ten mem- 
bers, of whom there are the Prime 
Minister, or Premier; Minister of 
Foreign Affairs; Minister of Home 
Affairs ; Minister of Education ; Min- 
ister of Agriculture and Commerce; 
and Minister of Communications. 
Subordinate government officers' are 
under civil service rules and are not 
subject to political changes. 

The present Emperor, Mutsuhito, 

[95] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

according to mythological history and 
the Constitution, which says, by virtue 
of a "lineal succession unbroken for 
ages eternal," is the 122nd Emperor 
in direct line since the Japanese 
Romulus', a period of about one thou- 
sand years, thus being the oldest 
dynasty in the world. There is evi- 
dently no question as to this title, and 
notwithstanding that the present Em- 
peror was born under a feudal sys- 
tem with all Oriental environment, 
he, with his advisers, state in their first 
proclamation, which is dated Oct. 
12th, 1881: 

"We, therefore, hereby declare 
(note the plural) that we shall in the 
23rd year of Meji, establish a parlia- 
ment, in order to carry into full effect 
'the determination we have announced, 
and we charge our faithful subjects 
bearing our commission to make, in 
the meantime, all necessary prepara- 
tions to that end with regard to the 

[96] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

limitation upon the Imperial prerog- 
ative, and the constitution of the 
Parliament, we shall decide hereafter, 
and shall make proclamation in due 
time." 

The Constitution was duly promul- 
gated in 1889, placing Japan 
amongst the constitutional monarchies 
of the world, which included local 
self-government for her cities, towns 
and villages. 

This important document, the new 
Constitution, by which the Emperor 
relinquished inherited prerogatives, 
indicated that he and his advisers had 
studied the feature of constitutional 
government well, the Emperor him- 
self evidently having no fear that his 
rights of sovereignty according to the 
Constitution would not be fully pro- 
tected. The lapse of time has fully 
proved the excellence of his judg- 
ment, and his master hand as a ruler. 
The succession of his lineage and his 

[97] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

policies are assured, for the Crown 
Prince has some robust sons, who, like 
their father, are being educated along 
the line of modern Imperialism. 

Emperor Mutsuhito is now fifty- 
nine years old and the Crown Prince 
thirty-two. They occupy the Impe- 
rial Palace and buildings in Tokio 
where visitors are not allowed to tres- 
pass except on stated occasions, i. e., 
during the lawn fete given by the 
Emperor late in April, or early in 
May, or at other times by edict of the 
Emperor. The Imperial Palace and 
grounds are surrounded by a wide 
moat and high stone walls about three 
miles in length, and were built by the 
Shoguns about four hundred years 
ago. The palace grounds have only 
' one approach, by a bridge which is 
guarded. It is said the palace 
grounds are beautiful, although the 
buildings are quite ordinary. On the 
occasion of the lawn fete above re- 

[98] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

ferred to the Imperial Family act as 
the host and the Emperor and Em- 
press meet the people present in a 
very democratic manner. 

Forty-seven Ronans 

Ronan interpreted means a wan- 
derer, a man without a home. In 
1701 this hand of forty-seven Ronans 
was formed as a result of one Asano, 
a Shogun, getting into trouble with a 
nobleman named Kira, whom Asano 
slashed in the face with his sword, this 
occurring in the palace. Asano was 
condemned to commit harakiri, which 
he did by falling on his sword, and as 
a result forty- six other Shoguns 
sought revenge. This was forbidden 
by the law, but nevertheless they 
called on the nobleman Kira at his 
palace in the night and ordered him 
to foUow the act of Asano, but he de- 
clined to do so. On his refusal they 
killed him, and although they were 

[99] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

lauded and entertained by notable 
persons' for having committed the 
murder, they had violated the law, 
and were officially sentenced to com- 
mit harakiri, which they did sepa- 
rately, thus showing their bravery. 

The bodies of these Ronans were 
buried in the temple grounds, where 
their tombs are elaborate and their 
memories honored by all Japanese. 
Some of these tombs are in Shiba 
Park, Tokio, and are magnijficent in 
design and, together with the sur- 
roundings, make a very imposing 
sight. Our attention was called to a 
metal fence and gate in front of these 
mausoleums by our guide, who said 
they were made from the coins re- 
ceived by Japan as indemnity after 
her former war with Korea. This is 
another illustration of the Japanese 
useless expenditure and waste of 
funds for the purpose of carrying out 
their old inherent principle of honor- 

[100] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

ing bravery and self-sacrifice. Cham- 
berlain in "Things Japanese" says 
that there were two kinds of harakiri, 
one obligatory, the other voluntary. 
The former was permitted to criminals 
by the authorities as an alternative 
to execution, the latter was practiced 
by men in hopeless trouble, also as 
an exhibition of loyalty, etc. Some of 
the officers and men of the Japanese 
army committed suicide in this man- 
ner as recently as 1895 on account of 
the action of their government in re- 
leasing, under pressure of Russia, 
France and Germany, the conquered 
Chinese territory of Liao Tung. 

Tea 

It is said this plant was brought to 
Japan from China about the begin- 
ning of the Christian era and it has 
been a favorite beverage up to the pres- 
ent time, although tea drinking by all 
classes did not become general until 

[101] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

about the time of its introduction into 
Europe, about the seventeenth cen- 
tury. Now we find "tea houses" all 
over Japan. In fact, it is the bever- 
age of all classes, both native and 
foreign. The tea plant is an ever- 
green similar to the camellia and has 
a white fragrant flower. It is grown 
from the seed, ordinarily about three 
feet high, ready for picking about the 
third year, and will usually last about 
ten years. The picking commences 
in April and continues at intervals, 
and in some districts until the end of 
July. 

The process of curing the tea does 
not vary particularly, only in grades, 
and conditions at the points where the 
work is done, which may be remote 
from the place where it is raised. The 
tea produced in Japan is said to equal 
in quality that grown in any country 
in the world. Of the teas imported 
by the United States for the current 

[102] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

year (1910), Japan furnishes 44%, 
China 34%, East Indies 9% and the 
United Kingdom 3%. Japan made 
her first shipments of tea about 1860, 
and they now approximate about 
forty milHon pounds per annum to 
this country alone. The price of a 
high quality of tea is fully as much 
in Japan as it is here, but the lower 
grades are cheaper. 

Subsidies 

Probably no nation in the world 
has adopted subsidies as a national 
policy to a greater extent than Ja- 
pan. This is shown in nearly every 
avenue of government commercial en- 
deavor, for as I have pointed out in 
another chapter, this is a paternal 
government. It is directly manifest 
in several ways, such as transporta- 
tion; they have subsidized lines of 
ships between Japan and nearly all 
accessible ports of the world. As soon 

[103] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

as our Panama Canal is completed 
they will no doubt establish a line to 
Atlantic ports, and the continent of 
Europe. This is their means of com- 
mercial development, and they now 
have eight hundred and seventy mer- 
chant ships, while we have nine! 
Little Norway has 2,148 and Ger- 
many about the same, while England 
has 11,563. Evidently our statesmen 
are more interested in appropriations 
for improvements in waterways and 
harbors for the floating of foreign 
ships, than they are for providing fa- 
cilities for taking care of our over-sea 
trade. 

Manifestly our conditions are vast- 
ly different from those of Japan. 
That, however, is not the comparison 
we should make, but rather, we 
should deal with the question of a 
sphere of commercial competition cre- 
ated by European powers, to whom 
we are now paying upwards of two 

[104] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

hundred million dollars annually for 
handling our traffic ; we handling less 
than 9% of our own foreign com- 
merce. We will see our error some 
time, and then our statesmen may 
fairly represent their constituents. 
Japan extends' her subsidizing policy 
into other channels, such as fisheries, 
and various commercial enterprises, 
together with those of an educational- 
missionary nature, amounting to fully 
$5,000,000 per annum, paid to twenty 
transportation lines alone. Other in- 
dustries are subsidized by the govern- 
ment, either directly or by a discrimi- 
nating tariff, and this same principle 
applies in other branches of trade and 
industry, being in fact a definite pol- 
icy of the government, and is carried 
to an extreme in undertaking to fos- 
ter and develop that country's re- 
sources. 

Some of our representatives who 
are progressive and, therefore, friend- 

[105] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

ly to our foreign commerce, have said 
that "whoever controls the trade 
routes of the world, will control the 
trade rates of the world," and those 
two factors will dominate in the in- 
ternational trade of the world, and we 
occupy the center of the commercial 
stage. Therefore, shall we, with all 
our natural advantages, relinquish 
this to our competitors ? Do we real- 
ize that our chameleon politics have 
swept our flag from the world's com- 
mercial highways ? Think it over. 

Commercial Exchanges 

The purchasing power of any na- 
tion measures its commercial status, 
therefore, when taking into consid- 
eration the question of commercial 
transactions, we should compare the 
relative ability of nations to produce 
and consume, and as the Oriental, 
Asiatic and the Slav are the factors 
directly involved, we must make such 

[106] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

a comparison of the peoples and the 
lands they occupy. We have already 
briefly described the commercial 
status of Japan, showing that that 
country, within itself, cannot be con- 
sidered, for political as well as phys- 
ical reasons, a great purchaser in the 
world's commerce. But we shall have 
to reckon with her in the broad field 
of Oriental development; for in her 
recent acquisition of Korea, with an 
area of 82,000 square miles, and her 
occupancy of southern Manchuria, 
making her a co-partner with Russia, 
spells extension and development. 
Manchuria, with an area of 215,000 
square miles of as productive terri- 
tory as there is in the world, and filled 
with ambitious Japanese, will' with 
their aggressive, irresistible policy 
soon brush aside any temporary bar- 
rier that may be raised by the people 
who are indigenous to the land. In 
this manner, the general policy of 

[107] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Japan will be followed until they 
dominate, if they do not actually con- 
trol, the Orient. 

I am aware that this is a radical 
view, but every condition is now shap- 
ing that way. Russian- Siberia, with 
an area of over eight and one-half 
million square miles, and fully forty 
per cent of that vast territory tribu- 
tary to the Pacific gateway, together 
with its strategic features, makes it 
but natural that Russia would be in- 
terested in regaining a Pacific Coast 
outlet which she lost, though but tem- 
porarily, to Japan under the Ports- 
mouth treaty of 1905. We have but 
a slight conception of the resources 
of that great country lying north of 
Russia in Asia, especially that adja- 
cent to the great Trans-Siberian Rail- 
way; for while the winters are long 
and cold, the soil is rich and as fertile 
as that of Canada, or our states of 
Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, and it is 

[108] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

better watered and timbered. The 
farmers successfully raise all kinds of 
cereals, grasses, potatoes, sugar beets, 
and other crops indigenous to such 
climates, as well as vast herds of live 
stock. And we shall have to change 
our picture of the people, as it is no 
longer a land of convicts and clank- 
ing chains; for the great Trans- 
Siberian Railway has, not unlike our 
own pioneer belts of steel, projected 
itself into the vast unsettled domains, 
developed a slumbering wilderness 
into commercial activity, until today 
the traffic is far beyond the capacity 
of the line, and the Russian govern- 
ment is preparing to reconstruct the 
road, with a second track and other- 
wise improve its facilities. This is not 
only necessitated by the local develop- 
ment, but the route has proved to be 
the great eastern highway to Europe. 
Therefore, again reverting to the 
feature of commerciaHsm, we find 

[109] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Russia and Japan in an entente, and 
one of the purposes is to insure Russia 
a free all-the-year port on the Pacific, 
which is not now furnished by the 
port of Vladivostock, and giving Ja- 
pan a free hand in China. 

In carrying out this plan Russia 
will probably build a line from 
K h a i 1 a r through Mongolia to 
Newchwang. With such a channel 
assured and the establishment of re- 
ciprocal relations, the western world 
will have access to a new field in over- 
sea trade. It is to Russia that we 
must look for such relations, as the 
Orient never has been and never will 
be a trade factor with us', for they do 
not produce or consume in any degree 
corresponding with our people. 

Propagandas 

Probably no people among the 
world's civilized nations are as "long" 
on propagandas as the Japanese. Al- 

[110] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

though of comparatively recent adop- 
tion, yet they have generally been 
successful. During the Jap-Russian 
war they formulated the most effec- 
tive campaign of education, interna- 
tionally, of recent years, through a 
well organized propaganda, for the 
purpose of enlisting sympathy in 
their cause. The press and various 
other means of publicity were subsi- 
dized, paid agents were sent to all 
parts of the world, and, working with 
their characteristic cleverness, the re- 
sults were eminently satisfactory. 
Even we fell victims to their wiles, 
for we must acknowledge that public 
sentiment underwent a most radical 
change in a very brief time, and their 
propaganda was without question re- 
sponsible for it. We did not pause to 
consider the merits of the case, or 
realize their ultimate purpose, we 
only knew the "little brown men," 
that dainty people of the "flowery 
[111] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

kingdom" were in a death struggle 
with the great Russian bear, and were 
putting up a fight that was the ad- 
miration of the century, and the re- 
sults are now history. The now 
thinking world on questions Oriental 
do not consider the third party in- 
volved, that patient and long suffer- 
ing Chinaman. Although it is his 
country that is the bone of contention 
and his people that have been driven 
to the "four winds" by the ruthless 
march of destiny. Two nations with 
fixed purposes, both being essentially 
commercial, and Manchuria as the 
field of operation, Japan's desire for 
more territory for her people, and to 
permanently entrench herself as a 
basis for future action and control, 
with Korea now safely tucked away 
in her pocket, and with absolutely no 
change in Russia's imperative re- 
quirement, which is a port on the 
Yellow Sea, the Jap-Russian treaty 

[112] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

of July 4th, 1910, was inevitable. A 
text of this treaty is as follows : 

"Article 1. With the object of fa- 
cilitating communication and develop- 
ing the commerce of nations (the 
italics are mine), the two high con- 
tracting parties mutually engage to 
lend each other their friendly co- 
operation with a view to the ameliora- 
tion of their respective railway hnes 
in Manchuria and the improvement 
of the connecting service of the said 
railways, and to abstain from all com- 
petition prejudicial to the realization 
of this object. 

"Article 2. Each of the high con- 
tracting parties engages to maintain 
and respect the status quo in Man- 
churia resulting from the treaties, 
conventions and other arrangements 
concluded up to this day between Ja- 
pan and Russia or between either of 
these two powers and China. 

"Article 3. In case that any event 

[113] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

arises of a nature to menace the status 
quo, heretofore mentioned, the two 
high contracting parties shall in each 
case enter into communication with 
each other in order to arrive at an 
understanding as to the measures 
they may judge it necessary to take 
for the maintenance of the status 
quo." 

And the Japanese have the call, as 
it is evident Russia saw in her defeat 
in Manchuria, and the agreement 
reached under the Portsmouth (N. 
H.) treaty, signed September 5th, 
1905, wherein Japan again exhibited 
remarkable statesmanship in relin- 
quishing her right to a cash indem- 
nity, about six hundred million dol- 
lars, thereby taking the risk of open 
revolt at home that she must make 
her peace with Japan. This unavoid- 
able condition may change the map 
of the Far East geographically dif- 
ferent from that contemplated when 

[114] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

the Anglo- Japanese alliance was con- 
cluded in January, 1902, and review- 
ed in August, 1905. 

Such alliance between England 
and Japan was as follows: 

"Article 1. It is agreed that when- 
ever in the opinion of either Great 
Britain or Japan any of the rights 
and interests referred to in the pre- 
amble to this agreement are in 
jeopardy the two governments will 
communicate with one another fully 
and frankly, and will consider in 
common the measures which should 
be taken to safeguard those menaced 
rights or interests. 

"Article 2. Should either of the 
high contracting parties be involved 
in war in defence of its territorial 
rights or special interests, the other 
party will at once come to the assist- 
ance of its ally, and both parties will 
conduct a war in common and make 
peace in mutual agreement with any 

[115] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

power or powers involved in such 
war. ( This clause is now modified — 
1912.) 

"Article 3. Japan, possessing 
paramount political, military and 
economic interests in Korea, Great 
(Britain recognizes Japan's rights to 
take such measures for guidance, con- 
trol, and protection of Korea as she 
may deem proper and necessary to 
safeguard and advance those inter- 
ests, providing the measures so taken 
are not contrary to the principles of 
equal opportunities for the commerce 
and industry of all nations. 

"Article 4. Great Britain, having 
a special interest in all that concerns 
the security of the Indian frontier, 
Japan recognizes her right to take 
such measures in the proximity of 
that frontier as she may find neces- 
sary for safeguarding her Indian 
possessions. 

"Article 5. The high contracting 

[116] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

parties agree that neither will, with- 
out consulting the other, enter into a 
separate arrangement with another 
power to the prejudice of the objects 
described in the preamble. 

"Article 6. As regards the war be- 
tween Japan and Russia (Note: You 
will observe this treaty was renewed 
while this war was on) , Great Britain 
will continue to maintain strict neu- 
trality unless some other power or 
powers join in hostilities against 
Japan, in which case Great Britain 
will come to the assistance of Japan, 
will conduct war in common, and will 
make peace in mutual agreement with 
Japan. 

"Article 7. The conditions under 
which armed assistance shall be af- 
forded by either power to the other in 
the circumstances mentioned in the 
present agreement and the means by 
which such assistance shall be made 
available will be arranged by the 

[117] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

naval and military authorities of the 
contracting parties, who will from 
time to time consult one another fully 
and freely on all questions of mutual 
interest. 

"Article 8. The present agreement 
shall be subject to the provisions of 
Article 6, and come into effect im- 
mediately after the date of signature 
and remain in force ten years from 
date. In case neither of the parties 
shall have been notified twelve months 
before the expiration of the said ten 
years of an intention of terminating 
it, it shall remain binding until the 
expiration of one year from the day 
on which either of the parties shall 
have renounced it, but if, when the 
date for the expiration arrives either 
ally is actually engaged in war, the 
alliance shall ipso facto continue imtil 
peace shall be concluded." 

This treaty was executed as pre- 
viously stated. 

[118] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

The declarations as set forth in the 
preamble are as follows: 

(1) "The consolidation and main- 

tenance of general peace in 
the regions of Eastern Asia 
and Asia. 

(2) "The preservation of the com- 

mon interests of all the 
powers in China by insuring 
the independence and integ- 
rity of the Chinese Empire 
and the principle of equal 
opportunities for the com- 
merce and industry of all na- 
tions in China. 

(3) "The maintenance of the ter- 

ritorial rights of the high 
contracting parties in the 
regions of Eastern Asia and 
India, and the defence of 
their special interests in the 
said regions." 
A well known and able writer on 
the Orient* says, with reference to 

*Thomas F. Millard. 

[119] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

this alliance: "This is a distinct ad- 
vance over the former treaty, and is 
the price England pays for Japan's 
promised assistance in protecting 
British possessions in India." 

Thus England surrendered her 
commercial interests in Korea and 
Manchuria. It is quite apparent that 
the Jap-Russian treaty of this year 
was as much of a surprise to all those 
interested as that of the Anglo-Ja- 
panese alliance of 1905, and no doubt, 
its effect will not only be fully as far 
reaching, but is likely to change the 
Oriental map to a marked degree, 
and put a "crimp" in the plans of the 
nations who have leaned upon such 
documents to preserve their entente 
for the "open door." 

That the further purpose of Japan 
may be better understood it is neces- 
sary to call attention to another Ja- 
panese propaganda, and so far as I 

[120] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

know it is the one par excellence. 
That is the one formed about 1880 by 
the Japanese government for the 
purpose of disseminating Japanese 
policies in China. That work is nec- 
essarily semi-educational or mission- 
ary. Schools and colleges were opened 
in Japan where the young men 
of China and Japan were invited, or 
induced to attend, and when the stu- 
dent was properly fitted he was sent 
to China to prosecute his work, being 
supported by the Japanese govern- 
ment. And as an evidence of the 
work being attractive to the young 
Chinese, statistics show that of the 
twenty-one thousand young men sent 
out by China to all parts of the world 
in 1909, sixteen thousand of them 
went to Japan! Some of the results 
of this propaganda are now shown in 
China's so-called awakening, prepar- 
ing for an ultimate constitutional 
government, but which is, as yet, only 
skin deep. 

[121] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

Thus the Japanese are gradually 
but surely insinuating themselves into 
the most intricate of China's affairs. 
This is a leaven, conditions in China 
making it receptive, and if these 
premises are correct, it is plain that 
Japan's status in the Orient is now 
fairly defined, and must be reckoned 
with in the final and real awakening 
of China. This will be as a finality, 
not as an international right, but we 
are deahng with a condition which is 
largely created by a new power, 
based upon a theory of natural se- 
quence, that is, that this is an Oriental 
problem. 

As we stated in the prelude, the 
United States Government is respon- 
sible for the opening of Japan, and 
bringing her into the family of na- 
tions. What prompted our action is 
recorded in history, for we read that 
as early as 1837 an American mer- 
cantile house fitted out the ship "Mor- 

[122] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

rison" for the purpose of trying to 
enter the Japanese trade, but were 
not successful owing to the continued 
restrictions placed upon foreigners by 
the Japanese government, and about 
1843 they promulgated the following: 
"Shipwrecked persons of the Japan- 
ese nation must not be brought back 
to their country, except on board 
Dutch or Chinese ships, for in case 
these shipwrecked per*sons shall be 
brought back in other ships of other 
nations they will not be received, 
etc." 

In 1845 the American whaleship 
"Mercator," while cruising among 
the Northern Japanese islands, res- 
cued some Japanese sailors from a 
sinking junk, whom they took to 
Yedo (Tokio) bay, but were sur- 
rounded by a large number of armed 
boats, which took the ship in tow, 
took all arms out of her, and kept her 
under guard for several days, then 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

ordered her to depart, but permitted 
the taking on of necessary supphes; 
and her arms were also returned. 

Subsequently in 1848, our naval 
force, then in the China seas, was in- 
structed to ascertain if there had been 
any change in the Japanese policy 
relative to the opening of ports to 
commerce. The fleet visited Yedo 
Bay and negotiations were started, 
but did not meet with success, in fact 
all overtures from us were declined. 
But as we had some time previously 
concluded a treaty with China, and 
our Pacific Coast was fast develop- 
ing, and protection and supplies for 
our ships and men were necessary in 
carrying on such over-sea operations, 
our Government concluded that de- 
cisive measures should be adopted to 
this end, as well as a further under- 
taking with a view of opening the 
ports of Japan. It was decided to 
send an envoy with sufficient naval 

[124] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

force behind him to impress the Ja- 
panese with the importance of this 
country, and command respect dur- 
ing any negotiations that might en- 
sue. Therefore, the Secretary of 
State, Mr. Webster, prepared a letter 
from the President, Mr. Millard Fill- 
more, to the Emperor of Japan, and 
a letter to the American Naval com- 
mander in the China seas. Commo- 
dore Mathew C. Perry, who was 
selected to head the expedition. On 
account of Mr. Webster's death the 
proceedings were delayed until 1852, 
when on Nov. 5th, the State Depart- 
ment addressed a letter containing 
the following to the Secretary of the 
Navy: 

1. To the effect that some perma- 
nent arrangement for the pro- 
tection of American seamen and 
property wrecked on these 
islands, or drawn into their ports 
by stress of weather. 

[125] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

2. The permission to American 
vessels to enter one or more of 
their ports in order to obtain 
supplies of provisions, water, 
fuel, etc., or in case of disaster 
to refit so as to enable them to 
prosecute their voyage. It is 
very desirable to have permis- 
sion to establish a depot for coal, 
if not on one of the principal 
islands at least on some small 
uninhabited one, of which it is 
said there are several in that 
vicinity. 

3. Permission for our vessels to 
enter one or more of their ports 
for the purpose of disposing of 
their cargoes by sale or barter. 

The mission was to be a pacific one, 
but owing to the attitude of the Ja- 
panese as shown in previous visits of 
our emissaries, it was thought expedi- 
ent that this expedition should be 
formidable enough to impress the Ja- 

[126] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

panese with our earnestness, and to 
push our request to the full limit, 
without becoming embroiled in actual 
war, which the President had no 
power or desire to declare. 

The Dutch Government, it is said 
by some writers, gave us valuable 
assistance, which evidently consisted 
in keeping their hands off, for had 
they been at all active in their oppo- 
sition, in view of their prestige with 
the Japanese, it would have had a de- 
pressing effect upon Commodore 
Perry's expedition. 

The letter from President Millard 
Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan 
was as follows: 

"Great and Good Friend: 

"I send you this pubhc letter by 
Commodore Mathew C. Perry, an 
officer of the highest rank in the Navy 
of the United States, and Command- 
er of the Squadron now visiting your 
Imperial Majesty's dominions. 

[127] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

"I have directed Commodore Perry 
to assure your Imperial Majesty that 
I entertain the kindest feehngs 
towards your Majesty's person and 
government, and that I have no 
other object in sending him to Japan 
but to propose to your Imperial 
Majesty that the United States and 
Japan should live in friendship and 
have commercial intercourse with 
each other. 

"The Constitution and laws of the 
United States forbid all interference 
with religious or political concerns of 
other nations. I have particularly 
charged Commodore Perry to abstain 
from every act which could possibly 
disturb the tranquillity of your Im- 
perial Majesty's dominions. 

"The United States of America 
reach from ocean to ocean and om* 
territory of Oregon and State of 
Cahfornia lie directly opposite to the 
dominions of your Imperial Majesty. 

[128] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

Our steamships can go from Cali- 
fornia to Japan in eighteen days* 

"Our great State of California 
produces about sixty millions of dol- 
lars in gold every year, besides silver, 
quicksilver, precious stones, and 
many other valuable articles. Japan 
is also a rich and fertile country and 
produces many very valuable articles. 
Your Imperial Majesty's subjects 
are skilled in many arts. I am de- 
sirous that our two countries should 
trade with each other, for the benefit 
both of Japan and of the United 
States. We know that the ancient 
laws of your Imperial Majesty's gov- 
ernment do not allow foreign trade 
except with the Chinese and the 
Dutch, but as the state of the world 
changes and new governments are 
formed it seems to be wise from time 
to time to make new laws. There was 



*This was in 1853. They take sixteen and one- 
half days now. 

[129] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

a time when the ancient laws of your 
Imperial Majesty's government were 
first made ( ?) . About the same time 
America, which is sometimes called 
the New World, was first discovered 
and settled by the Europeans. For 
a long time there were but few people, 
and they were poor. They have now 
became quite numerous, their com- 
merce is very extensive; and they 
think that if your Imperial Majesty 
were so far to change the ancient laws 
as to allow a free trade between the 
two countries, it would be extremely 
beneficial to both. If your Imperial 
Majesty is not satisfied that it would 
be safe altogether to abrogate the 
ancient laws, which forbid foreign 
trade, they might be suspended for 
five or ten years so as to try the ex- 
periment." 

We shall have to concede that the 
development in the intervening 
period, upwards of half a century, is a 

[130] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

world surprise, and also that we have 
not kept in touch with it to the extent 
we should, or that the efforts of our 
first representatives deserve. The 
work accomplished by Commodore 
Perry in 1854 followed by that of the 
Hon. Townsend Harris, our first Am- 
bassador to Japan, who in 1858 
formed our first treaty of trade and 
commerce with that country, has 
never been generally appreciated, 
either as to the value of the work in 
itself or the resultant effects, by our 
countrymen. 

Even in that early time, and under 
the crude conditions that then existed, 
the Japanese showed exceptional de- 
ference to our representatives, and 
there are no names — ^in that ancestor- 
worshipping country — ^more revered 
today than those of Commodore 
Perry and Townsend Harris. While 
they have their jingoes, the same as 
we, the government as well as the 

[131] 



Jy\PAN, A CHILD OF 

people realize the advantages' to be 
derived by preserving a friendly spirit 
and amicable intercourse, and sin- 
cerely deprecate any act that would 
tend to weaken such relations. It is 
a conceded fact, I believe, that ad- 
verse action or antagonism, if that 
answers the purpose better, comes 
primarily from our labor, war, and 
political elements, and from labor 
principally on or adjacent to the Pa- 
cific slope. Assuming this to be a 
correct premise, we can readily un- 
derstand the reasons to be the cheap 
labor of the Orient; and while this 
involves a great economic question, 
the novice may dare to tread. We 
may restrict or prohibit immigration 
through the Pacific gateways, and 
make the Atlantic open ports, and 
get a more assimilating color, but in 
what way shall we benefit the country 
at large? California is unable today 
to plant and harvest her crops for 

[132] 



y 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

want of labor; the east is in a similar 
condition, as labor there is in the 
cities and unionized, and were it not 
for the modern improvements in agri- 
cultural implements and machinery 
the American farmer, with all the 
vast hordes of undesirables that come 
to our country through the Atlantic 
ports, could not plant, sow or reap 
commensurate with the demands. 
Even under these conditions the price 
of foodstuffs are beyond precedent, 
yet still the rabble, the non-producing 
undesirables, must be fed, even if 
their unskilled labor is over and un- 
equally paid. 

Rumors of war, generally, come 
through two sources, the Army and 
Navy man, and the jingo politician. 
The former is sometimes and under 
favorable conditions formidable; the 
latter is a near statesman, who would 
vote, if asleep, for an appropriation 
that would give his constituents a 

[133] 



JAPAN, A CHILD OF 

chance at the "bin," but forgets his 
statesmanlike duty when a question 
of international policy is involved. 
The Army and Navy man is about 
the same in all countries, in times of 
peace he gets restless — time is fleet- 
ing — 'promotions are slow, and espe- 
cially in this country, where our army 
is an incident and the navy a persua- 
sive force, it is but natural that 
activity would be desirable. It is all 
a business, if sometimes serious, but 
does not promote that feeling of 
amity that should exist between 
countries having common interests. 
Conceding that we are, as a nation, 
large, and with resources unequalled, 
this is the greater reason why we 
should be beyond the fear of the 
"YeEow Peril." Take down the bars, 
and affiliate and assimilate with and 
through the Orient and that great 
Northland (Russia) as an experi- 
ment at least, be one of the quintuplet 

[134] 



THE WORLD'S OLD AGE 

of nations, Japan, China, Russia and 
England, which undoubtedly will 
participate in the benefits of future 
development and mutual protection 
in and beyond the Pacific highway. 




[136] 



DEC 20 1913 



L 



^ii 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



028 102 154 




